Method of operating proportional water meters



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. H. NASH.

METHOD 0E OPERATING PEOPOEVTIONAL WTEE METERS.- 110.336.145. f Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

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(No Model.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. H. NASH. METHOD 0E OPERATING PRO'PORTIONAL WATER METERS. No. 336.145.

Patented Peb. 16,

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' N. Pneus. Plmwumogmpmr. wahingwn. n.c.

(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 3.

L.11. NASH.

METHUD 0E OPERATING PROPORTIONAL WATER METERS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

N. PETERS. Phnlu-Lnhgmpher. wushingmn. D. c.

(No Modem 4 sneenssheet 4.

lL'. H. NASH.

METHOD 0E OPERATING PROPORTIONAL WATER METERS. 110.336,145. Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVIS HALLOCK NASH, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL METER COMPANY, OF NENV YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF OPERATING PROPORTIONAL WATER-METERS.

SPECIFECATION fermi-ng part of Letters Patent No. 336,145. dated February 16.1886.

Serial No. 194,329. lNo model.)

To a/Z whom t may concer/t:

Beit known that I, LEWIS HALLoeK NAsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Operating Proportional VatenMeters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to water-meters constructed to divide the influent volume into two streams, each of which passes a definite proportion ofthe flowing volume, one of which is measured and the measurement of the volume of both streams determined by such measured part by a registering device suited for the purpose.

The improvement herein is directed to a method of measuring water in which a definite resistance to the flow of both streams is caused so as to greatly exceed in retarding force the variable resistances in the separatestreams and ofthe measuring device. My purpose is to render the measuring action in a proportional water-nieter certain and unchangeable under all the changing conditions which occur in use, so that the registration of the measuring device will not be affected to any appreciable extent by the varying resistant-es to its action caused by foreign substances in the water or by the frictional resistance of the moving parts.

Hitherto the improvements in proportional water-meters have been directed to means whereby the resistance of the measured current, in passing through the measuring device and its connecting-passages, is balanced by an equal resistance placed upon the flow of the main current, so as to exactly balance the resistances against each other and thereby cause a definite proportion of the tlow to pass through each channel. Various means for ac- Vcomplishing this result have been proposed,

as by forming resistance-passages in themain current, by causing a valve or valves to vary the size ofthe orifices through which the two currents pass and thereby regulate the ilow in each channel, and various other similar de vices, all designed to balance the two streams one against theother, and thereby to regulate the proportional discharge of the two streams.

-t-ion of my new meter l will now state.

By such means proportional meters have been produced which have not given good results when tested for accuracy of registration, as the fault of all such meters hitherto construct ed, so far as I know and can find, is that they are liable from slight and unascertained causes to change their rate of registration so that they are unreliable as a means for accurately measnringwater. 'lhisuncertaintyofpermanency in the registration of this class ot' meters has 6 i heretofore prevented them from being of any practical value, and therefore they have never come into use.

After a series of experiments and careful tests l have been able to produce a proportional meter which gives an unchanging regis tration, and which is as permanent and reliable in its operation as any meter ot' the class in which the whole stream passes through the measuring mechanism.

The principles of construction and opera- The resistance offered to the flow of the water in the metered channel is of two kinds-first, the force required to move the working parts ofthe measuring device and of the register-` ing mechanism, and, second, the hydraulic resistance to the iiowV of the water in the passages. In the main stream the resistances are all of the second kind. The influences that 8o tend to vary the amount of' these resistances are in the first ease variations in the frictional resistance of the moving parts, due to wear,

. the deposit'of sediment, friction ofthe stuffing boX, and other resistances directly due to the 8 5 moving parts ofthe measuring device. These resistances are different in diiferent positions of the parts ofthe measuring device, as they are constantly changing, being greater or less as effected by minute causes and by the wear of' 9o the parts. These variations in the resistance of' the moving parts do not appear to serious disadvantage in meters wherein the whole volume of the water acts to drive the moving parts, be cause the force of the moving current is so much greater than the resistance of the meter that these variable resistances are of such comparative insignificance as to be unimportant; but when a large portion of the water passes through a free channel these variable resistroo tion the hydraulic resistauees caused by the 4head of one-eighth ol' an inch.

iiow ofthe water through the passages become very small, and are hardly perceptible,while the wholeeffect of the resistance of the moving parts in the measuring device is exerted in effecting theregistration of the device.

The resistance of the moving parts of a measuring device of approved. design is very minute, and may be stated in a good example to be on the average equal to a hydraulic This resistance will (lifter at diii'erent times, even under favorable conditions,so as to vary from one-sixteenth ot' an inch head to one-fourthof an inch head. The second kind ot' resistance, due to the hydraulic friction of the flowing currents, is more constant; but even this issubject to change from the deposit of sediment or foreign matter in the channels, and these resistances are very great under large rates of flow, but become very small withsmall rates of flow, hence the resistancesto be balanced are in the measured current, viz: the resistance of the moving` parts plus the hydraulic resistance of the current, which must equal the hydraulic resistance in the main channel plus an artificial resistance added to balance. When the meter is delivering a large quantity of water,

the hydraulic resislances become very great compared with the other resistanccs, so that they are the controlling forces controlling the delivery or' the two currents, and by causing the two streams to pass through given-sized oritices sothat the greater part of the resistance ot' the currents is caused at the orilices, these resistances will be rendered quiteV permanent, and the meter will be reliable for large rates of tiow; but as the quantity ot' water delivered by the meter is lessened the4 hydraulic resistancesrapidly decrease,until upon the smaller rates their iniiuence isimperceptible, and then the only resistance to be considered is that ofthe meter working parts. Since this resistance is liable to change it follows that it' we form a balance between the resistance of the meter working parts andan equal resistance upon the main stream, as is the usual practice, by regulating the relative size of the discharge-milices, or causing a resistance to the iow of themain current as soon as the resistance of the moving parts `changes from wear or other causes, the registration of the meter upon the small streams will correspondingly change. My invention remedies this result by placinga detnite resistance upon the measured stream, which is so many times .greater than the resistance of the mov- ,ing' parts .of themeter that the variations in the resistances of said ymoving parts are only a small proportion ot' the total 4resistance in.

said stream, Vand hence these variable resistances cannot aect the registration of the meter to any injurious extent. An equal resistance is placed vupon the flow ot' the large stream, and thus the iiow in the two streams is controlled by causing each stream to overcome an equal resistance to its flow ot'a :nagnitude so much greater than the variable resistances of the two streams as to overpowerv the disturbing effect of the variable resistances.l To illustrate this` point, suppose that the resistances to the iow of the water in the measured stream were equal to one-eighth of an inch head, and that the main channel was provided with an equal resistance. Then, if from any cause the resistance to the tlow in the measured channel should be increased to one-quarter inch head, the water would iind a much easier passage through the main channel in which a resistance ot' only one-eighth of an inch head had been provided und the meter would only register a small portion ot' the proper amount; butif, as proposed by me, in addition to the resistance of one-eighth inch head I provide an additional resistance of one foot head, then the, total resistance to the flow in the measured stream would be -l-g-:gofan inch head, which will be balanced in the main channel by an equal resistance ot' 9%. It', now, the resistance ofthe measuring device increases to one -quarter head, the total resistance will be i?, which is partially balanced by the resistance in the main channel of Q-g; hence, while in the former case the resistance in the measured and in the main channels were in the proportion of two to one,under the same conditions by my improvement the ratio would be as ninety-eight to ninety-seven, conditions much more favorable to accuracy. By suitably increasing the definite resistance any desirable degree oi' accuracy can be obtained.

roo

ln orderto carry out my improved method on line y g/ of Figs. 1 and 4. Fig. 6 is a view ,f of the inner side of the swinging weighted valve. Fig. 7 is an edgewise view ot'- the valve, and Fig. 8 a top view of the divided Wing or lip ot' the valve by which vto determine the proportional area of the dischargeoritices of the two streams. v

I use a measuring device of suitable con- IIO IIS

struction, through which the measured stream liows, and in the present case I make use of a meter known in the trade as the Crown meter,7 for which Letters Patent Were granted to me January 21 and 28, 1879, numbered,

respectively, 211,582 and 211,769, a full and particular description whereof is deemed um' t necessary, and to which reference is made, as illustrating one form of meter to which my improvements are applied.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the measuring device consists of a case, A, formed with interior alternate wall bearing projections a, and recesses and case-ports b, and the piston B, as having similar alternate projeetions,c, and recesses, by which the chamber of the case is divided into receiving and dischargingmeasuring-spacesby the operation of the piston, which has an epicycloidal movement about the center of the case. The piston carries a spindle, h, which connects with and drives the registering mechanism through the intermediate gearing contained in the box i, which operates the gear j, which connects the dial mechanism. The piston has ports ci, which co-operate with the case-ports b to effect the inlet and discharge into and from the measuring-spaces of the case, as shown and described in my said patents. The main-flow channel is formed under the case A, and a segmental screen D is placed therein, covering the passage E,which connects with the meter proper. The measured current passes through the screen into the measuring device at d, above the screen, as shown by arrows, and escapes through the piston-ports and through the opening d into the chamber F and passage G, Fig. 2, to the port e, Fig. 4. The main current passes through the channel C, and washes the surface ofthe screen D in its passage to the outlet-portf. The outlet-chamber H isformed by aseparatecorer,1. The controlling-valve J swings within this out-let-chamber to operate the discharge-orifices e and f. The valve Jswings upon a knife-edge bearing, g, and is formed with two lips or wings, the one, J, operating the main passagef, and the lip or wing J operating the port e, and it is provided with a divided adjusting lip or wing, J2, on its side next the direction of the flow, which is designed to vary and determine the proportional area of the discharge-orifices of the two streams, substantially as set forth in my application for Letters Patent tiled September 4, 1885, initier Serial Nos.176,159 and 176,160. The valve J is formed of a heavy weight, and its action is to close the ports e and f, so that no water can pass through them without lifting the dead-weight of the valve; hence no water can dow through the device without overcoming the resistance to its flow, caused by the weight of the valve J. I prefer to form the valve so that the weight of it shall offer about one hundred times the resistance to the flow of the water which is offered by the moving parts of the measuring device,

and therefore, as hereinbefore stated, the effeet of the variable resistances of the moving parts will be only one per cent. of the total resistance to the flow, and the consequent registration ofthe device will be practically perfect. I prefer to hang the weighted valve upon a knife-edge bearing, so as to swing outward with the flow, as it has the advantage of great durability and of being entirely without friction; but the valve might be formed with a pivoted bearing with the same action.

The action of the lip or wing extension J2 is as follows: If the wing or piece J2 were removed,the construction of the valve-lipsJand J is such that the areas of the port-openings through which the water would escape would always bear a definite proportional ratio to each other; but it has been found in practice that a definite proportion of the owing cnrrents will not always be controlled by causing them to pass through orifices that bear constant proportional area to each other, and that in order to secure the result of a definite ratio between the flowing streams it is necessary to provide that the relativesize of the dischargeorifices for the two streams have a changing ratio for different rates offlow, which relation is determined by actual experiment to be that ratio which will pass the required quantity of water under the given conditions. For the purpose of thus determining the relative size ofthe disch arge-orifice l provide the extending lip or tongue J2, which is of such shape as to close of'f'a portion of the port of the main stream. As shown in Fig. 1, the water escapes from all sides of the valve J, except where the edges m ofthe piece J'M7 closes the opening; also in Fig. 5 the lip J2 is formed with an opening, z, and has side walls, m m, and as it swings under the outlet-port edge s, the area of the opening z, through-which the water can pass, is bounded by the edges a a a s. By suitably forming the walls ony m and a a of' the lip or tongue piece J2, we may provide any desired area for the discharge of the water from under the sides of the valve J, so that the relative proportional area for the discharge of the water from the two streams may be varied for every position ofthe swinging valve, and such a relation established as will insure the passage of the required proportion of the flowing current. This matter of varying the proportional areas of the two streams, which is the subject of my applications filed as aforesaid, and of my applications tiled June 22,1885, underSerial Nos. 169,389, 169,390, and 169,391, is herein combined and used in connection with the' weighted resistance-valves, for the purpose of controlling more perfectly the relative flow of the streams. The drawings show the valve as being hung upon a knife-edge bearing at the top ofthe outlet-portf, so that the outflow from thelatter will cause the valve to swing away from and open said port. The valve has an opening, Z, just below its point of suspension, and the case-wall s, at the top of the portf, stands down, so that the outflow from the case at f must pass under said port-wall to havean outflow through the top opening in said valve. The divided wings J'z J of the valve-piece are curved at their top surfaces, so as to conform to an arc struck from the valve-bearing point, and form a contact-joint with the top edges of roo l IIO the portf, so thatvas the valves swing outside of the port the divided wing of the valve-piece moves within the top of said port, so as to increase in area and diminish as it moves in an opposite direction to close the outlet-port; but this construction may be changed-according to the tests.v As shown in Fig. 5, the valve`wing J stands to one side 'from the top of the valve,so as to operate the port e, which is at one side of the portf, at its top, and communicates with the chamber F bythe vertical passageG. (ShowninFigsZanda.) Thovalve J itself forms the weight, and its heaviest part is at its swinging end, and I prefer to hang it so that in its normal or closed position it will stand vertical, with its opening z closed by the port-wall s, and the divided wing extending entirely within the main passage. The port e, as shown, is of less area than the port f, and the two valves are of unequal area.

The operation of the meter is as follows: Vater enters from the inlet-passage and aportion of it goes through the screen D and the measuring device, by which it is measured, passing out through passages cl, F, and G to the port c, at which pointit is obliged to force its way under the valve wing or lip J', while the main portion of the water passes through the channel C to the portf, lifting and passing 'under and throughfthe opening in the valve J. Since the lips or wings J and J are formed in one piece the resistance offered to the flow of each stream will be the same. The method of causing an equal resistance to each stream could, however, be carried out by valves of different forms aud by separate val ves foreach stream, by so proportioning the weight of the two valves as to cause au equal resistance to the tlow ofthe current; butit is easier to effect an equal resistance for each stream by rigidly connecting the two valves.

I have shown, Figs. land 3, a screen, D, seated in bosses in the main'ehannel in the shape of a portion of a cylinder or inverted perforated trough for separating the water tlowing into thenietered passage, and I prefer to make it in the shape shown, so that the metered passage E will extend all around the screen from near the bottom of the main passage C, and thereby give a very free iow to the metered passage. In this case the main current flows within the cylindrical screen, but the screen is not carried around on the bottom ofthe channel,so that heavy substances which may enter the channel will be carried along the smooth bottom ofthe channel with- 4out a chance of being forced through the screen into the metered passage. The object of thus forming the screen in a cylindrical shape is to obtain large screening surface that will not require an enlarged space for its reception, which would be the case if a dat screen of equal capacity were used.

It is obvious that the smaller valve J may be provided with an oriicecontrolling lip similar to that ofthe main valve; but since it is only necessary to vary the proportional area of the two discharge-openings this can be effected by the action of one as well as by the action of both valves. l

I am aware that in Patents Nos. 168,528 and 168,85l it is proposed to control the proportional flow of two streams by means oi' valves which operate to open the discharge-orifices in such a manner that the area of said openings will always bear a constant proportion to each other. In these patents the valve or valves operate to open the discharge-ports for each stream proportionally in such manner that whatever may be the position ofthe valves the relative size of the lower and upper openings (on ports) will always bear the samepro.- portion to each otherl7 Therefore, to accomplish this purpose it was not necessary in.

these patents that the valves should always occupy the same position under the same rate of flow, since the area of the port-openings must always bear the same proportion in all positions of the valve. For such purpose a spring is sufficient to close the valvel against the pressure of the flow, sothat the port-areas of the two streams lshould always bear constant proportion to each `other, and variations in the tension of the spring cannot change this result; but, as a matter of fact, definite proportions of water will not always dow IOO through port-openings which have a definite proportional relation, because, as I have demonstrated by actual tests of such method, the proportional quantity of water delivered varies with every variation in the rate of delivery and position of the valves, and accurate registration of the whole volume of flow cannot be obtained. Tests under my method, herein described, have determined that in orderk that a detinite proportional quantity of water under a given rate of iow should pass through in two streams, the positionsof the valves, the pressure ot' the tlowing streams, and the size of the discharge-openings must be the same, and that these conditions must vbe determined for every rate of flow by the weight and form of the valves. It is in these important particulars that my method differs from the operation of the meters in the patents aforesaid. My method differs from the operation of these patents in that I provide, first, for an excessive definite .resistance to the iow of the water through the discharge-orifices, which resistance shall always be the same under the same quantities ofiiow by a weighted swinging valve, and, second, by varying'the proportional size of 4the discharge-orificevfor every rate of fiow, so as always to pass the required proportional quantity of water in each stream under given conditions of fiow previously determined by tests.

In my applications aforesaid, Nos. 176,159 and 176,160, I use coacting swinging valves to operate ports to vary the proportional portopenings of' the stream for every rate of' flow, and in which the valves must necessarily offer but slight resistance to the flow of the water by reason of being balanced; but by actual tests I found that the registration varied under the same conditions of ow. It was under such tests that I discovered the necessity of having a weighted instead of a balanced or light valve.

As the invention herein is directed to the described method of measuring water fiowing in divided streams, which is not dependent upon the particular apparatus which I have described and shown as a preferred means for carrying out said method, I have of even date herewith filed an application for a patent for such apparatus, claiming the structure, in certain particulars, and the cooperating elements, whereby the water is measured, as described.

It is not intended to claim herein, broadly, the method of measuring water in divided streams by providing for each stream equal resistances which will always bear the same relation under the same rates of flow, and greater than the resistances to the fiow of the currents in the connecting passages and in the measuring device, whereby the discharge-ports are operated so that their areas shall always bear a constant and fixed ratio or proportional area to each other; but in connection with such resistance provision, my invention also embraces provision for varying the relative proportional area ofthe discharge-orifices for each stream for every rate of flow, so as to control the proportional delivery for each stream. This is the important matter of my improvements, since I have found that a constant pr0 portion of water will not iiow through orifices in which the proportional areas have a fixed or constant ratio to each other; but that in order to secure the result of a constant proportional flow in each stream for every rate of fiow, the proportional area must be varied for each rate of fiow. As illustrating this matter the following testdemonstration is given. lThe test-figures show the amount of water passed 1in. in. ,In in.

Qin. 643

Size of stream Pounds of water passed This record, as corrected by my improved method, is as follows, viz:

1 in. 51g in.

Qin. 400

Size of' stream in. Pounds of water passed..

lgin. 399

This shows a practically perfect record, effect` ed by the provision for varying the proportional discharge-areas of the two streams, so as to pass a definite proportion of the fiowing volume for every rate of flow, and for the attainment of which the provsion only by which the discharge-ports always bear a constant or fixed proportional area to each other to effect an equal resistance to the flow of each stream is inadequate.

I claim- 1. The method herein described of measuring water fiowing in divided streams, which consists in varying the proportional areas of the discharge-orifices of' a Water-meter for every rate of fiow, and controlling such variation by coacting weighted valves, substantially as described.

2. The method herein described of measuring water flowing in divided streams, which consists in providing an equal resistance t0 the flow of each stream, and regulating thepropor tion ofthe flow of each stream by varying the proportional areas ofthe dischargeoritices to control the proportional delivery ofthestreams under every rate of flow, substantially as herein described.

3. The method herein described of measuring water flowing in divided streams, which consists in providing a definite resistance to the flow ot' each stream for every rate of flow, and utilizing such resisting element for vary ing the proportional areas of said orifices to control the proportional delivery ofthe streams under every rate of flow, as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEVIS HALLOCK NASH.

Witnesses:

H. W. BRINCKERHOFF, WILLIAM C. WEsTERvELT.

IOO 

